Morocco: tomato prices jump to 17 dirhams per kilo

Tomato prices have climbed in Morocco over the past few days, reaching 17 dirhams per kilogram in some cities, levels described as unprecedented by ChoufTV as winter sets in.

According to the channel's figures, tomatoes leave the field at no more than 6 dirhams per kilo, are resold at the wholesale market for 11 dirhams, then reach the consumer at markets for at least 15 dirhams, more than double the price between farmer and customer. Tomatoes from Souss-Massa remain the most expensive, while those from Doukkala and Gharb sell for less.

Separately, Moroccan authorities decided on the evening of Wednesday 4 November to suspend granting new export licenses for fresh fruit and vegetables to several African markets, with the measure taking effect from midnight, according to Alyaoum24. No specific duration was announced for the measure, which does not affect trucks holding valid licenses, which will continue operating as usual. The stated aim is to give priority to the needs of the national market and keep prices balanced.

What's behind the new price jump?

At Marrakech's wholesale market, traders interviewed by Le360 link the price rise mainly to production-side factors: disease and viruses affected this season's harvest and damaged part of the crop, leaving fruit of uneven size or marked by worms, on top of financial losses some farmers have built up with their suppliers. There is also a seasonal gap between the end of the Oualidia season and Agadir's supply, which has not yet reached a level that covers the shortfall, as well as rising transport, fuel and labor costs. Traders believe the export share of production remains limited compared with the weight of these domestic factors.

Tomatoes are not alone: the same source reports similar pressure on the prices of zucchini, green beans and onions in the same market.

This is not the first time the market has seen such a rise in a short period: in late October, WaFinkom reported a tomato price of 10 dirhams, attributed to a heatwave that hit the Souss region, before it jumped in less than two weeks to between 15 and 17 dirhams — a sign the cause goes beyond the heatwave alone, pointing to deeper production and supply problems this season.

Will halting exports ease the price at the market?

The decision does not stop all exports, only new licenses, while shipments that already hold a license continue unchanged. Alyaoum24 notes that the decision's real effect on domestic prices still depends on other factors, chiefly production volume, transport costs, weather conditions and market speculation, not the export decision alone. Until the measure's effect becomes clear, the price consumers pay today still depends mainly on the region the tomatoes come from: buyers of tomatoes from Doukkala or Gharb pay less than those receiving tomatoes from Souss-Massa.